Electric-circuit making and breaking device



J an. 2, 1928. 1,441,193.v

C. w. wYMAN.

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT MAKING AND BREAKING DEVICE. omGINALHLEn'sEPLl.191s.

Il ll CAD Patented Jan. 2, 1923.

UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. WYMAN, OF CLAREMONT, NEW ,HAMPSHIRIL ASSIGNOR 'O SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC-CIRCUIT MAKING AND VBREAKING DEVICE.L

Application filed September 1,

To all 'ui/0m it may concern:

Be it knorvn that l, CHARLES lV. VVYMAN, o citizen of the United States, residing at Claremont, in the county of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Circuit Making and Breaking Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to electrical circuit makinr and breaking` devices.

It has for its object to provide an iinproved circuit making and breaking device for electric circuits and,- more especially, one adapted to use in gas-laden atmospheres such as encountered in mines and so constructed and arranged that the circuit may be broken at will without danger of igniting the'gas. More specifically my invention has for its object to produce a new and improved connector whereby the arc caused by the breaking: of the circuit is attenuated and broken and wherein the gases Igenerated by the arc are thereafter confined for a predetermined cooling period in order effectually to prevent the ignition of the surrounding atmosphere should the saune he laden with gras, coal particles, or the like.

in the accompanying; drawings l have, for purposes ol' illustration, shown one ein.- hodiment which my invention may assume in practice, illustrating the saine as applied t0 a connector of a type adapted to general use and especially adapted to use iu mines or the like.

In these .lrawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of my iluproved connector in open circuit position, certain parts thereof being broken away to facilitate illustration.

Figure 9. is a longitudinal partial sectional view of the same showing` itsl parts in circuit closingr position.

Figure 3% is a view similar to Figure 2 showing' the circuit still closed linty with the arc attenuated.

Figure #l is :i vieu' similar to Figure Q. showing' the circuit about lo be broken, the arc beingl'urtln-r attenuated and the arcinpr rhaiulier about to he sealed.

ln these drawings. .l have illustrated a easing; nienilier l of a cylindrical form :1ttached to a suitable support '2. which may. if .iesired. he carried h v u fixed panel or a movable device su1h for instaure. as a min- 1916, Serial No. 118,043. Renewed October 2, 1922.4 Serial No. 591,988.

ing machine. This member 1 carries Within the open end of the same a removable 1nsulatmg sleeve 3 which is in turn` provided with a restricted portionor throat 4 andy an enlarged vinner'bore 5 having a beveled end 6 adapted to .icofoperate with a, correspondingly beveled surface on a co-operat-- ing removable innerinsulatingr sleeve .7. As shown this member 7 is internally-.grooved at '8 to receive anyexternal angev!) on a cylindrical contact memberor sleevel() suitably removablyfattached '.toxth'e support 2` and electrically connectedto the circuit aslocated nearer the .freefend` of the "mejni;,.`

her 1. f i

Cooperating with the member 1 and carrying means adapted to establish electrical connection with the contactmemberv4 10 housed therein, is a co-operating'conriector member 13 herein adapted to [it over the mei-uber :li and receive the saine in a. chainlier 14- forined therein as the member 13 is pushed home. or towards circuit'closing,y position, from the open circuit position illustrated in Figure 1. This member 13 is shown preferably supplied with current through a conductor 15 which is in turn electrically connected to a preferable cylindrical contact member 16 disposed coaxially within the member 13 and adapted to tit snugly within and move longitudinally of the contact member 10, the latter in a preferred form being provided with a resilient neck 17 to permit free movement of the said member and at the same time maintain a proper electrical contact between an elongated Contact surface 18 on the outer end of the member 1() and the exterior of the cylindrical contact member 16.

ln my improved construction. l have also provided means whereby. as the member 1G is withdrawn' from the member 1()` the arc ivill be prevented from burning the contacts as it is attenuated hv the longitudinal sepa ration of those members. These means co-operate with the rinzgr or sleeve 12 ilescribed a ud include a Soft iron core l5) prei'- erably disposed coaxially within the-contact member 16, Obviously, when the-core 19 is magnetized the poles ot the ring 12 will be oppositely disposed. Thus, as the member 16 is withdrawn, its north pole will be brought opposite the south pole of the ring 12 with the result that, as the arc is attenuated, it is also caused to be moved laterally' by the action of the ux passing.` between the poles of these members. In a preferredijform of myinvention, however, the arc is not-drawn directly between the contact member 16 and the contact surface 18. Instead, thecont/act member 16 is electri- :callyf connected to a conductor 2O which is in turn coiled about the core 19 and electrically connectedwtherethrough with a supplemental'contaot ring. 21, disposed around theprotrudingendof the core 19 and insulated 4fomzthe'Contact surface 16 by a suitable-insulavingfringf-22. Thuspit will be noted` that whenithe'niembers 41 and 13 are' separated,= the arci is drawn between this Sup lementa1..member'\21' and the contact sur ace-:llandi'that: also the'core 19 is only magnetizeiduring the making. of the connection betweentherigl-21and the :contact 18 and1 tlewdnawing ot fthe arc.

In myimpnoved-construction, I have also providedl means, co-operating withthe above described means for causing the arc to travel bodily-around the contacts and not to burn the latter, whereby the gases generated by the arcate Vconfined within the connector untilthose gases have time to cool suiciently-to prevent any possibility of their igniting the surrounding atmosphere. As shown in Figure 4, these means include an insulating nipple or tip 23 carried by the member 13 :and forming a continuation of the contact member 16 thereof. As illustrated, this member 23 is suitably attached tothe member 13 by suitable means 24, as, for instance, a nut and bolt or a screw connection, and is also provided with a plurality of annular flanges 25 thereon, spaced apart bycorresponding grooves 26 and so arranged that one of these flanges is brought opposite the inner end ofthe throat 4 of the insulating. sleeve 3 immediately after the moment of maximum flux fiow between the north pole of the core 19 and the south pole of the magnet 12. Obviously, this tip may be made of any length desired to insure the production of a time interval sufficient to cool the arc gases before the same are liberated by the complete withdrawal of the ti plu order. further, to insure against the separation of the connector members before the aro is broken or its gases have been Cooled. l have also provided improved cooperating separation-retarding means on the members i and 13. These means obviously may assume various forms` a long overlapi of .ther members rintentioned` being suticient`` in certain instances In a pre'- erred form, however, the member 1 is provided with a ...longitudinally disposed slot 27, 'havinga lateral extension 28 at its inner end, and oppositely disposed lateral extensions 29 at its outer end, the last mentioned extensions preferably communicating with angularliy :disposedj right-:and left outletslots 30. (1o-operating with these slots and carried upon the membenIB, 'is also a slot engaging member ory pin 31 adapted to move successively through the slots 28 and 27 `and one of the sets of slots 29 and 30 as the circuit is broken and 'reversely as the circuit is closed.Y By this construction and a proper proportioning of the .parts in such a manner-that when the member 31 hasp'assed through the slots 27 and 28-tothe position shown in Figure l the circuit willbe broken, it is impossibleto separate the members l and llwhilethere-is any dangerof igniting. the surrounding ases, the co-operating slots 29 and `30, forming-the 4right and left outlet passages, inserting `the necessary time interval between the breaking of the circuit i and. the yseparation ofthe connector: members,to insurethe cooling oftheiarc gases.

In the-operation of my improved device it will be evident that with the parts in their circuit closin position indicated in Figure 2 and with t e current oWing-from the conductor 15, when the member 13 is withdrawn from its co-operating element 1, the contact surface 16 will not leave the surface 1S' until the contact member 21 has engaged the-latter. i Thus, currentwill then How through the coil 2O in such a manner as to magnetize the core 19 and cause the arc drawn between the contactA 18 and the supplemental contact ring 21 to be rotated rapidly in the magnetic field. This rapid rotation puts the arc under a heavy tension or stress which reduces its tendency to jump long distances and decreases its power of destroyingr materials, as the insulating member 23, which may get in its path. This action, it will be noted, takes place when the arc is attenuated and extending directly between the members 18 and 21 in the closed annular space, or chamber, provided between the contact surface 18 and the reduced throat of the member 3, the magnetic Fiiux then being at its point of maximum intensity and acting directly across the arc in such a manner as to cause the same to move bodilyv around the space between the members 18 and 2l, Attention is also directed to the fact that when the member 13 is further withdrawn as shown in Figure ft, if liu` arey has not already been interrupted by tinl action of the linx described. it will be interrupted by the insulatingr nipple or tip 23 which also immediately thereafter starts to close communication with the insulating neck 4 and acts to maintain the arcing chamber sealed until the gases therein have cooled. It will also be apparent that, by the provision ofA some co-operating separationretarding means -on the casings 1 and 13,

a further time interval may be inserted bestud 31 beingbrou ht into engagement with the outenwalloft e slot 29, and the outward 4mov'el'nent of the member 13 being arrested until .member is turned manually .Attention.isderealso-directed to the fact that, inimy improved construction, the larc is not. dramnfthrough'- insulating material in such ai manner .asg 1 to I cause breaking down outhe'. 4isa-111e but@ isp, instead, drawn and broken linf-.aipgseparate enclosed chamber which isgthereafter maintained closed by the t`1p23 or, if-desired,by the tip 23 andthe separationfretarding means on the casings, for asuflicientvlength of time to permit the coolinglof thegases ,generated by the are. Another de'cidedlyadVantageOus .feature of my improvedconstruction is that in the normaloperation ofV the l.device the coil 20 is energized only during.: the separation of the connector elements and then only during the very part of this separation when current How lthrough the coil is needed to ener gize -the' core4 19, i'. e. when the arc is being (lrawn,-all dilliculties arising from heating or waste-of current being thus avoided. Attention is also directed to the fact that the contact parts shown herein are of an exceedingly rugged nature adapted to long use in service and that these parts are securely though removably housed-Within the connector cases so that they may not be readily damaged by abuse of the latter at the hands gof the operator. It should also be noted thatydue to the long sliding motion necessary to the connection and separation of the connector casings, it is impossible for the operator to jam or damage the contact parts. Another decidedly advantageous feature of my construction is that, when it is desired to use the loclng means for the connector elements above described, it is possible to lock those elements together and thereby insure against accidental separation of the same, the manipulation of the member 13 necessary to separate the same from the member 1 being such as to require an intention on the part ofthe operator. These and other advantages of `my improved construction will, however, be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

AIt Will` of course, be understood that in the use of my improved construction the conector members shown andlthe.A elements thereof may be transposed as desired and that various other changes may be made inV the `form or location of the elements of the device Without in any way evading .the

spirit of the invention, it being my intention to include all such modifications within the scope of the appendedclaims.

lVhat I claim as new and desiretosecure by Letters Patent is:- .u i'- V .1.. In an-electrical connector,.co-operating reciprocable contact carrying members,.con-

tacts thereon, and meanscomprisingparts-r carried. by said members-respectively .for maintaining an arc drawn between sadrcon; tacts 1n constant motion withrespect thereto.

2. ,In' an electrical connector, (zo-operatingreciprocable contact carrying. members, .contacts thereon,.and magnetic meansscomprising parts carried by said members-respectively rfor maintaininganarc drawn .be-

tweensaid contacts in constantfmotion inrespect thereto until said are-is interrupted. 3. In an electrical connector,ico-operating reciprocable rcontact carrying members,l cylindrical icontacts thereon, andi :s magnetic.'

means carried by saidmembers'or maintaining an arc drawn between saidzcontacts in constant motion in respect thereto.

4. In an electrical connector, cooperating reciprocable contact carrying members,` contacts thereon, `and co-operating 4concentrically disposed magnetic means carried by said members for maintaining an arc drawn between said contacts in constant motion with respect thereto. i

5. In an electrical circuit` makingr and breaking device, cooperating contact carrying members movable toward and'from each other, contacts thereon, magneticarc mov ing means carried by said members, and means for rendering the same operative immediately prior to and during the drawing of anrarc.

6. In an electrical connector. cooperating contact carrying members movable toward and from each other, contacts thereon, mag netic arc rotating means carried by said members` and means for rendering the same operative during the drawing of an :irc and inoperative when said contacts are in normal circuit closing position.

7. In an electrical connector` cooperating Contact carrying members movable toward and from cach other, contacts thereon. magnetic arc rotating means carried bf.' said members and `including an electro-magnet through which the current flowing' in thc arc passes. and means for rendering the same operatilveduring the drawingof :m arc but notwhen said'contacts are inf normal circuit closing position;

8. In an electrical'eonnector, co-operating reciprocable-contact carrying members, contacts thereon, magnetic means carried by saidA members` forrpreventing an arc drawn between'said contacts from remaining stationary, and cooperating means for insur ing the cooling of the arc gases prior to the separation ofi saidI members.

9.- 'n an electrical connector, cooperating reciprocable contact carrying members, one of the samehiwinfa chamber therein, contacts on saidmemiiers, magnetic means car ried by said members -forfmai-ntaining 'an arcin constant motion of translation, and an insulatingmembercarried on one of said membersin reas?v of tscontact.

l0. Inail-electrical connector, co-operating reciprocable contactl -carryin g1 members, conta/cts thereon,-'magnetic means/carriedby said members formaintaini-ng. iny motion an arc drawn between said'contaets, and' means saidmembersu i 4 l1. ,fInr-an electricalfcolmector; cca-operating contact-carry' n1embers,` vcontacts thereon, means on sai members "forming an enclosed arcing. chamber during the separa tion of contacts and for thereafter sealing'said -cha'mber for an' interval, and means for maintaining in motion an :tre drawn between-said contacts 12. In an"electrical connector, cooperate ing contact` carrying members, contacts thereon, meansr on-sadmembers forming :in enclosed` arcing chamber duringzthe separation of said contacts, and insulating chamber-closing meansfon one `ofvsaid elements movable across the path of an attenuated arc.

13. In an electrical connector, co-operating relatively movable Contact carrying clements` contact members thereon, a supplemental Contact member on one of said elements, and means `for drawing an are only between said supplemental contact member and a contact member on the other element.

14. In an electrical connector, zo-operating relatively movable Contact carrying elements. contact members thereon, a supple` mental contact member on one of said ele ments` means for drawing an arc only belween the supplemental' Contact member and the Contact member on the other element. :ind cri-operating magnetic means for prerenting the burning of said members by said nrc. in' maintaining thc latter in motion.

l5. ln an electrical connector. coopcral ing relatively movable contact carrying elemcnts. contact members thereon. :i supplemental contact member on one of snidele ments. means for drawing an arc only be tween the supplemental Contact member and tthe contact member on the other clement,

for thereafter "delay-ingritlieiseparation o :ind simultaneously operative magnetic means for rotating said nrc bodily about said members.

A 16. ln an electrical connector, cooperating relatively movable Contact carrying members, contacts carried thereby and movable one relative io the other, a magnetizable member carried by one of said members, and

a magnet carried by the other of' said members and disposed on the opposite side ofwan arc drawn between said contacts.

1T. ln an electrical connector, (to-oprating relatively movable contact carrying ele# ments.` contact members thereon, a supplemental contact member on one of said elements, means' for drawing an `arc only Tbei tween the, supplemental contact member and the contact member on the other element, cooperatingr magnetic means `for maintain-- inglsaid arc in motionot'tranSlatOn, and' co- 85 operating means carried by' said contact carrying members tor'delayiing thevliberation of the gases -generated by the are.

181 In: an electrical* connector, co-operat-- ingf'relatively movablev vcontact'carrying ele-l 90" ments. contact membersV .'thereon, a'f'sup'pleL mental Contact memberon 'one oflsaid elely ments, means for drawinglaii arcfonly bel"V tween said supplemental contactmember and thcJ contact memberon the otherielement, io-operatingmagnetic means for mov` f ing said nrc bodily over the surfaces of-'said member, cooperatingmeans `carriedfby said contact carrying members for delaying the liberation ot the gases generated by the arc, and means co-operating with sald lastmentioucd means for delaying the Separation 1of said contact carrying members. i

i9. .ln :in elcctrical connector, a; pflir'of separable contact carrying elementsfcollec- '105 tively constituting acfising,` co-operating contact members carried by'said elements respectively within the same, and means for rctnrlling the separation of said elements :i'l'tcr llic separation ol? said contact mem- 110 bers.

20. ln an electrical connector, a pair of separable Contact carrying elements Collectively constituting a casing. co-ope'rating contact members carried by said elements m5 respectively n'itliin the s:i1ne,'and means for preventingY tlle separation of 'said elements under the iniuence of explosive action Within the same after the separation of said contact memlrcrs,

Q1 ln an electrical connector, a pair of separable coulant carryingy elements collectively couslitiiling :i casing. cooperating ronlzict members carried by said elements respectively n'itliin thc szimc. :1nd means for 125 icinpomrily preventing the rectilinear separation of said clcmcnts zitter the separation of' snifl ronlml members.

22, lu an cleclrisgul connrfftor. fr pair of separable lclescoping Contact carrying ele- 13G u'lth cn-h olvi; :mit:` inu'whxtic :n.l'v. control hug :rw-:ins cooperating therewith and (-nn'lpri :l coil im' producing a magnetic field oi` :un iol-:n strength transverse to thc direction oi' :in arc 'ormcil on breaking the cirlcuit h v separation o'r said connector' cle- 'ments` irrerrpcairc ol the point alone` said of an arc formed on breakin@ theicircuit h v separation of said connector ,eiements inrespcctirc o the point upon said annular members at which :cid arc maj)T be drawn, Said coil being" normally dead, and means for causing a lion' oi current through said .coil upon separation of said Contact members.

42. In :m electric circuit makingL .and breaking .iler-ice.r cooperating, contactmem# bers one of which is adapted to contact with the other when said device is'incircuit clos ing operation and to be separated from the other when said circuit is open, a thirdcontact member spaced from each of said contact members7 and an electromagnet arranged to blow the arc formed on openingr of said circuit, one end of whose Winding is connected to one of said first mentioned contact members and whose other end is connected to said third contact member, said parts being constructed and arranged so that as said device is operated to .open the circuit engagement between one of said first mentioned contacts and said third .mentioncd contact member is eiected 'prior to separation of said first-and second mentioned contact members and for a short period therez` tter whereby the circuit finally broken includes t ie resistance of said magnet.

43. In breaking;- movable device, relatively stationary'and members each carrying contact an electric circuit ,making` andV .fiminine i'ulesin. the contact.` means on one of .said pi'cibers' .comprising a contact clement ,adaptedi' tirserve as a circuit closure means iwlieiusaid circuit :is closed,an element adaptfctl to receive the arc drawninpon openingiof 'zsaid circuit, and magneticlarc controllingl means connected between said members.

44. In an electric circuit; making and 'breaking device, relativelystationary and adorable-,members ,each` carrying Contact meansb the. contact Ymeans .on one of said members 'comprising a Contact element .adapted to Aserve as a' circuit closure means whensaid' circuit is closed,'an element adapted to receive-the arc drawn upon opening of said circuit, .and magnetic .arc controllingr means 'connected `between said members, and thel contact meansvon the otherno said members successively engagin said elements on .relative movement', of sait? members.

`4:5.;"Inl, an electric circuit making .and breaking device, cooperating contact, .mem- -bersione ofrvhich is-adapted to contact-with the otherlwhenf-saidydewce isin normal cir- ,cuit gmaling-pperation andto ibe separated from the other when ,said ,circuit is. open, a third I contactimemberfspaced, :i1-om each of .said f 'contact rmembers( ,when said ,circuit `is open, and an electro-magnet E:arranged to blow the arc formedcn opening ofsald circuitone,end.o,f .whose winding is connected vtoene .of saidfirs't .mentioned contact members and -Whose'.otherendfis connected to said third Contact member, said parts lbeing constructed andantalngedlso .thats said.de,

vice is operated to,- apen the circuita circuit is ,effectedE betweenL said thirdmentioned con- ,.tact member( andthe oneA ofls'aid first and secondi/mentioned contact members to "which it ,isnot connected'through said winding, be.

fore separation of saidrstand secofnd mentioned Contact members and rforra short period thereafter whereby thecircuit finall'Vv brokenincludesthe resistance of said mag- .net.,

,CHARLES W. WYMAN,

In testimony whereof I aix my sig'giia'ture. 

